Different Types of Rigging Equipment

Everything You Need to Know About Rigging Equipment 

Rigging plays a vital role in moving heavy loads safely and accurately. There are many kinds of rigging available, depending on the task at hand. From mining and excavation to logging and construction, every rigging job has unique demands and challenges. Knowledge of rigging practices and hardware is crucial for efficient operations and the safety of the crew.

This article discusses the most commonly used types of rigging equipment, along with its uses, features, and benefits.

Types of Rigging Equipment

There are important factors to consider regarding different types of rigging equipment, such as the load contents, the type of material, the weight of the load, the load connection, and the number of lifting points. The most frequently used rigging equipment and its best uses include the following:

Rigging Hooks

Rigging hooks reduce or eliminate slippage when hoisting heavy material. These hooks come in various sizes and designs, depending on the type of load, and are most often made from steel. The most common rigging hooks used for lifting include the choker, eye, grab, and sorting hook.

Eye Bolts

Eye bolts provide anchoring points to the rigging apparatus. By design, an eye bolt allows a cable or a rope to be fed through the eye to lift an object. The most commonly used eye bolts include straight eye bolts and shoulder eye bolts.

Steel Nuts

Some eye bolts require steel nuts to secure an application. The size of the nut depends on bolt size and the load shape and weight. The most commonly used nuts for lifting and rigging include:

● hex

● lifting eye

● wing

● dome

● ball ends

Wire Ropes

Wire ropes and their accessories have many uses in rigging and lifting heavy objects. Interwoven strands of steel wire within the metal rope account for its strength and versatility. Coated or galvanized wire ropes are designed to withstand exposure to the outdoors.

Pulleys and Blocks

Blocks and pulleys are a staple in the industry. Many rigging applications rely on them to mitigate challenges associated with extremely heavy loads. When used with rigging ropes, blocks and pulleys reduce the energy needed to lift a heavy load.

Cable Clamps

These clamps form endpoints when shaping a wire rope eye, sometimes called cable clips or wire rope clips. Wire clamps also make connecting two cables by creating a wire rope eye and running the adjoining cable through it.

Shackles

Shackles are U-shaped connecting devices that aid in the rapid connection and disconnection of loads and different types of rigging equipment. The most common use of shackles is rigging and moving exceptionally heavy loads, weighing between 6,000 and 11,000 pounds.

Forged Swivels

Also known as load swivels, forged swivels provide flexibility of movement while lifting unwieldy loads. Forged swivels alleviate stress on the lifting equipment by adjusting to the load movement.

Slider Choking Hooks

Slider choking hooks are fabricated slings. They are usually made of steel and designed to handle piping, machinery, and wood. The logging industry relies heavily on sliding choker hooks. The sliding movement allows for quick sizing adjustment to accommodate loads of multiple sizes.

Turnbuckles

A turnbuckle, also known as a bottle screw or stretching screw, is a load-rigging device designed to adjust the tension of cables and ropes. The device consists of a right-hand threaded fitting and a left-hand threaded fitting within the steel body. Adjusting the threading of the turnbuckles increases or decreases the tension of the rigging.

Synthetic Lifting Slings

Synthetic lifting slings provide the necessary strength and flexibility for heavy rigging and are a popular choice for handling delicate or highly finished materials. Made from polyester or nylon, synthetic slings are lightweight and affordable. Synthetic slings are available in standard and custom.

Rigging Has Many Uses in Many Fields

From construction to landscaping, archeology, and deep-sea excavation, rigging has an enormous range of applications and methods. It is crucial to enlist the expertise of a licensed professional rigging company to handle your rigging projects. There is substantial room for error without proper training or appropriate types of rigging equipment, producing catastrophic results.

Contact Us

Greenshields Industrial Supply provides top-quality industrial supplies to large facilities, including warehouses, factories, and more. With almost 70 years of industry experience, we have the knowledge and expertise to advise you on the best products for your needs.

Our team of experts undergoes extensive continued training to provide top-notch assistance to managers and contractors searching for the right equipment for their next project. Call us today at 425-426-2415.